Senate gun control bill passes first test

The Senate on Thursday ended a GOP filibuster on a new gun control bill, clearing the way for debate to begin on a hugely emotional issue that has dominated headlines since the tragic December shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Text Size

-

+

reset

Senate gun bill passes first test

POLITICO Roundtable: Gun control a win for Obama?

It’s a big win for Democrats in that 16 Republicans crossed the aisle to even consider the gun legislation, but the vote is only the opening move in what could be a drawn-out floor fight that will center on a deal unveiled Wednesday by Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) that would require background checks on all commercial gun sales and end the so-called “gun show loophole.”

Two Democrats - Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Mark Begich of Alaska sided with the Republicans and voted to continue the filibuster.

Sixty votes were needed to end the GOP filibuster and start debate on the gun bill.

Parents and family members of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting watched from the gallery as the roll call vote was held. President Barack Obama spoke by phone with family members after the vote, the White House said.

“The president congratulated the families on this important step forward, noting that the bipartisan progress would not have been be possible without their efforts,” said White House press secretary Jay Carney. “He reiterated that much work remains and pledged to continue fighting for the votes they deserved.”

In the Senate, opening debate is not nearly the same as winning final passage on a bill. Republicans are expected to offer dozens — if not hundreds — of amendments and string out debate over the next few weeks.

Technically, the Senate still must vote on motion to allow formal debate to begin. That vote is set for Friday at this point, but Democrats are hoping that Thursday’s big bipartisan vote will show that second vote to be a futile effort for delay. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will offer a consent agreement to begin debate immediately, but any single Republican can object, forcing another temporary delay.

Republicans who backed Reid and the Democrats in ending the filibuster did so for a variety of reasons.

It was also clear that Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — who backed the filibuster effort led by Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — did not try to enforce party discipline on the filibuster, leaving his rank-and-file members to go their own way.

Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), one of the few remaining Republican moderates, has her own bipartisan bill with Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to stiffen penalties for gun trafficking.